19 convicted in Moscow concert hall attack claimed by ISIS that killed 149 people

The Moscow court on Thursday sentenced 19 people for involvement in the incident 2024 shooting explosion concert hall in Moscow killed 149 people and injured more than 600 in one of the worst attacks in the capital in years.

A faction of the terrorist group ISIS claimed responsibility for the March 22, 2024 massacre at the Crocus City Hall concert venue where four gunmen shot people who were expecting a performance by a famous band and set fire to the building.

All 19 defendants received lengthy prison terms: 15 were sentenced to life in prison, one was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison, and the other three were given 19 years and 11 months each.

The trial began in August 2025 in a military court, as is customary for terrorism cases, and took place behind closed doors, authorities citing security concerns.

President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have said, without presenting evidence, that Ukraine played a role in the attack. Kyiv has strongly denied involvement.

The Investigative Committee, Russia’s top criminal investigation agency, said the attack was “planned and carried out for the benefit of the current leadership of Ukraine in order to disrupt the political situation in our country.” It also noted that the four suspected gunmen tried to flee to Ukraine afterwards.

The four, all identified as citizens of Tajikistan, were arrested hours after the attack.

The suspects – identified as Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda, Shamsidin Fariduni and Muhammedsobir Fayzov – appeared in a Russian court showing signs of severe beating.

Those who tried to go along with them include three men who sold a car to the suspects, a man they rented from and 10 other suspected terrorists, according to the Russian news site Mediazona.

The attack in Moscow came two weeks after the US warned of possible attacks targeting large gatherings in the Russian capital. The US embassy in Moscow had publicly advised Americans to stay away from events, including concert venues, because of the possibility of a terrorist attack.

“Like Yesterday”

The decision came before the two-year anniversary of the massacre.

“For all of us it’s like yesterday,” Ivan Pomorin, who was filming the Crocus Hall concert at the time, told Agence France-Presse in court.

“For us, the victims and the relatives of the deceased, it is not clear whether everyone is facing the law, it seems that there are no people who were able to organize it, the Investigative Committee must continue to work,” he said.

The four gunmen – aged 20 to 31 at the time – worked in various occupations, among them a taxi driver, a factory worker and a construction worker.

They stood in a glass defendant’s cage, surrounded by guards.

According to media reports, Mirzoyev’s brother was killed fighting in Syria, which may have led to his strengthening.

The TASS news agency reported this month, citing a lawyer, that two of the defendants asked the court to send them to fight in Ukraine instead of life sentences.